Adjustable cam time sequence control



Nov. 30, 1965 H. T. SIMMONS 3,221,117

ADJUSTABLE CAM TIME SEQUENCE CONTROL Filed Sept. 9, 1963 INVENTOR.

HA T SIMMONS FIG. 2

ATTORN United States Patent P 3,221,117 ADJUSTABLE CAM TIME SEQUENCECONTROL Harold T. Simmons, Indianapolis, Ind., assignor to P. R. Mallory& Co., Inn, Indianapolis, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 9,1963, Ser. No. 307,635 7 Claims. (Cl. 200--38) This invention relatesgenerally to cam operated timing devices useful in carrying outpredetermined functions and/ or operations in accordance with aselective program and more particularly to a device capable of beingadjusted to a variation of time sequences.

While most similar switch actuating devices are designed for use inautomatic washing machines, dishwashers, clothes dryers, etc., thepresent invention lends itself to many other applications where anelectrically timed sequence is required, for example, in vendingmachines of the liquid dispensing type.

Other types of adjustable switches require a certain amount of guessworkin setting the cams in desired relationship to each other and theseusually require some sort of tool to facilitate setting.

It is an object of the present invention therefore, to provide a devicehaving a means for very close incremental cam settings such as 1variations.

It is another object of this invention to provide a device wherein thecams can be set in varying relationship to each other without the use oftoo-ls. It is another object of this invention to provide a versatileswitch actuating means whereby the cams can be set quickly and accurately.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a switchactuating means having a plurality of toothed cam sets whereby thecenter cam which is rigidly fixed to the rotatable shaft, can be used tocarry out a repetitive cycle while the outside or moveable cams can beadjusted to provide variable cycles.

In practice, adjustment of the cams is made by axially disengaging theteeth of the end cams from the mating teeth on the faces of the centerdriving cam and rotating the adjustable cams to the required setting.The cam teeth are biased back into engagement by springs located on eachside of a cam set. It is contemplated that the switch actuating meanswill be driven by an electric motor. Accordingly, the invention residesin the features of construction .and arrangement of parts. However,since various embodiments of the invention are conceivable withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof it is intended that the descriptionand drawings be considered as illustrative only and not limiting inscope.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of myinvention including a typical electric motor driving mechanism as wellas the outline of a single snap-action switch, the actuation of which isrepresentative of a use for my invention.

FIG. 2 is a cam and shaft assembly showing a plurality of cam setsbiased in their operating positions by a plurality of springs and oneca-m set separated axially on the shaft in position for making a cycleadjustment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of a typical snap switch showing therivctless construction comprising two integral eyelet-like bosses. WhileI have emphasized the novelty and description of the adjustable cams, itwill be understood that a complete assembly may contain a combination ofconventional cams as presently known and adjustable cams as per theinstant invention.

Generally speaking, the construction of the present time sequencecontrol comprising individually adjustable cam sets, fixed sequence camsand unitary switches fulfills a need not heretofore met by existing orprior art. The

3,221,117 Patented Nov. 30, 1965 individual switching stations of thepresent invention are so constructed that adjustments are now possibleby hand manipulation, eliminating the need for various tools as well asparts such as set screws, nuts, washers, etc. These features in thepresent control are further enhanced by obviating the need for aninterval stepping mechanism thereby reducing the cost considerably bythe use of a constant speed driving mechanism. Also by staggering thepositions of the individual switches it is possible to accommodate moreswitching stations by utilizing both sides of the control assembly.While the embodiment shown in the drawings also represents a single gangver- $1011 of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in theart that by extending the housing components and utilizing a means ofconnection such as gears or belts, a multiple gang embodiment can beconstructed according to the principles of the invention.

The timing device includes suitable driving means; for example, a clockmotor 10 which is not shown in detail since the construction thereof isirrelevant. The clock motor 10 is fastened to an end plate 12 throughwhich the shaft coupling sleeve 11 protrudes to cooperate with cam shaftassembly 14a and floating shaft extension 33 which are connected througha spring clutch 13 to cam shaft assembly 14a. The cam shaft 14 carries aplurality of cam sets, each consisting of a driving cam 15 fixed inposition both radially and axial-1y to cam shaft 14, a pair of drivencams 16 and 17 aligned axially on hub 18 of driving cam 15 and held inrotating engagement therewith by springs 19. The driving cam 15 containsa full circle of gear-like teeth 20 on both faces which cooperate withcorresponding gear-like teeth 21 on driven cams 16 and 17. Switchmounting plates 22 consist of channel-like strips each having aplurality of perforated switch mounting apertures. Individual switches23 are mounted at each station by means of eyelet-like bosses 24 formedintegral to the switch housing section 25. The bosses are insertedthrough the perforated channel strip and may be heat staked on theopposite side. The switch itself is held together by similar eyelet-likebosses 26 on switch housing section 25 and may be heat staked as shownin FIG. 3. The unit is considered complete with the assembly of a plate27 which is similar to plate 12 both of which are mounted to switchmounting channels 22 by screws 28 assembled into threaded apertures 29.Both plates 12 and 27 contain two or more elongated arcuate slots 30 tofacilitate radial adjustment of switch mounting channels 22. Reversemanipulation of the shaft 14 is prevented by the use of clutch springs13 and 32. From the foregoing description of the present invention inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, it will be evident that theinvention provides an improved time sequence control featuringruggedness, simplicity and low cost without sacrificing quality andefiicient operation.

I claim:

1. In combination, a timing mechanism for sequentially actuating aplurality of switching devices comprising: a motor, said motoractivating a shaft through a pair of spring clutches, said clutchespermitting rotation of said. shaft in one direction only, said shafthaving placed thereon a plurality of adjustable cam sets havingpredetermined functional contours, said cam sets including a driven camfixedly connected to said shaft and a plurality of cams having afloating characteristic on said shaft, each of said cams in said camsets having gear-like teeth on the faces thereof, spring means urgingengagement of said gear-like teeth of each of said cams of said camsets, said gear-like teeth being adapted to provide fine incrementalsetting of said functional contours at predetermined angles as said camshaving a floating characteristic on said shaft are manually displacedwith respect to said fixed cam of said cam sets, and a plurality of snapaction switches individually riding on said functional contours of saidcams whereby on rotation of said cams by said motor, said contours ofsaid cams actuate adjacent snap action switches, said snap actionswitches mounted on a frame for said combination by means integral tosaid snap action switches.

2. In combination, a timing mechanism for sequentially actuating aplurality of switching devices comprising: a motor, said motoractivating a shaft through a pair cf spring clutches, said clutchespermitting rotation of said shaft in one direction only, said shafthaving placed thereon a plurality of adjustable cam set-s havingpredetermined functional contours, said cam sets including a driven camfixedly connected to said shaft and a plurality of cams having afloating characteristic on said shaft, said drive cam centrally locatedwithin said cam set, each of said cams in said cam sets having gear-liketeeth on the faces thereof, spring means urging engagement of saidgear-like teeth of each of said cams of said cam sets, said gear-liketeeth being adapted to provide fine incremental setting of saidfunctional contours at predetermined angles as said cams having afloating characteristic on said shaft are manually displaced withrespect to said fixed cam of said cam sets, and a plurality of snapaction switches individually riding on said functional contours of saidcams whereby on rotation of said cams by said motor, said contours ofsaid cams actuate adjacent snap action switches, said snap actionswitches mounted on a frame for said combination by means integral tosaid snap action switches.

3. In combination, a timing mechanism for sequentially actuating aplurality of switching devices comprising: a motor, said motoractivating a shaft through a pair of spring clutches, said clutchespermitting rotation of said shaft in one direction only, said shafthaving placed thereon a plurality of adjustable cam sets havingpredetermined functional contours, said cam sets including a driven camfixedly connected to said shaft and two cams having a floatingcharacteristic on said shaft, said fixed cam positioned between said twocams having a floating characteristic, each of said cams in said camsets having gear-like teeth on the faces thereof, spring means urgingengagement of said gear-like teeth of each of said cams of said camsets, said gear-like teeth being adapted to provide fine incrementalsetting of said functional contours at predetermined angles as said camshaving a floating characteristic on said shaft are manually displacedwith respect to said fixed cam of said cam sets, and a plurality of snapaction switches individually riding on said function-al contours of saidcams whereby on rotation of said cams by said motor, said contours ofsaid cams actuate adjacent snap action switches, said snap actionswitches mounted on a frame for said combination by means integral tosaid snap action switches.

4. In combination, a timing mechanism for sequentially actuating aplurality of switching devices comprising: a motor, said motoractivating a shaft, said shaft having placed thereon a plurality ofadjustable cam sets having predetermined functional contours, said camsets including a driven cam fixedly connected to said shaft and aplurality of cams having a floating characteristic on said shaft, eachof said cams in said cam sets having gear-like teeth on the facesthereof, spring means urging engagement of said gear-like teeth of eachof said cams of said cam sets, said gear-like teeth being adapted toprovide incremental setting of said functional contours at predeterminedangles as said cams having a floating characteristic on said shaft aredisplaced with respect to said fixed cam of said cam sets, and aplurality of switches individually riding on said functional contours ofsaid cams, contours of said cams for actuating said switches.

5. In combination, a timing mechanism for sequentially actuating aplurality of switching devices comprising: a motor, said motoractivating a shaft through a pair of spring clutches, said clutchespermitting rotation of said shaft in one direction only, said shafthaving placed thereon a plurality of adjustable cam sets havingpredetermined functional contours, said cam sets including a driven camfixedly connected to said shaft and a plurality of cams having afloating characteristic on said shaft, each of said cams in said camsets having means for interconnecting said cams of said cam set withother cams of said cam set, on the faces thereof, spring means urgingengagement of said means for interconnecting said cams of said cam sets,said means for interconnecting said cams adapted to provide fineincremental setting of said functional contours at predetermined anglesas said cams having a floating characteristic on said shaft are manuallydisplaced with respect to said fixed cam or said cam sets, and aplurality of snap action switches individually riding on said functionalcontours of said cams whereby on rotation of said cams by said motor,said contours of said cams actuate adjacent snap action switches, saidsnap action switches mounted on a frame for said combination by meansintegral to said snap action switches.

6. In combination, a timing mechanism for sequentially actuating aplurality of switching devices comprising: a motor, said motoractivating a shaft, said shaft having placed thereon a plurality ofadjustable cam sets having predetermined functional contours, said camsets including a driven cam fixedly connected to said shaft and aplurality of cams having a floating characteristic on said shaft, eachof said cams in said cam sets having means for interconnecting said camsof said cam set with other cams of said cam set on the faces thereof,means urging engagement of said means for interconnecting said cams ofsaid cam sets, said means for interconnecting said cams adapted toprovide incremental setting of said functional contours at predeterminedangles as said cams having a floating characteristic on said shaft aredisplaced with respect to said fixed cam of said cam sets, and aplurality of switches individually riding on said functional contours ofsaid cams, said contours of said cams for actuating said switches.

7. In combination, a timing mechanism for sequentially actuating aplurality of switching devices comprising: a motor, said motoractivating a shaft, said shaft having placed thereon a plurality ofadjustable cam sets having predetermined functional contours, said camsets including a driven cam fixedly connected to said shaft and two camshaving a floating characteristic on said shaft, said fixed campositioned between said two cams having a floating characteristic, eachof said cams in said cam sets having means for interconnecting said camsof said cam set with other cams of said cam set, spring means urgingengagement of said means for interconnecting said cams of said cam sets,said means for interconnecting said cams adapted to provide incrementalsetting of said functional contours at predetermined angles as said camshaving a floating characteristic on said shaft are displaced withrespect to said fixed cam of said cam sets, and a plurality of switchesindividually riding on said functional contours of said cams, saidcontours of said cams for actuating said switches.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,852,957 9/1958Breitenstein 74568 2,863,969 12/1958 Edmunds 200168 2,875,306 2/1959Allen 200168 2,963,628 12/1960 Ostland 20038 3,033,949 5/1962 Hehl 200383,038,040 6/ 1962 Stolle et al. 20038 3,126,759 3/1964 Cook 20038BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT K. SCI-IAEFER, Examiner.

HIRAM B. GILSON, Assistant Examiner.

7. IN COMBINATION, A TIMING MECHANISM FOR SEQUENTIALLY ACTUATING APLURALITY OF SWITCHING DEVICES COMPRISING: A MOTOR, SAID MOTORACTIVATING A SHAFT, SAID SHAFT HAVING PLACED THEREON A PLURALITY OFADJUSTABLE CAM SETS HAVING PREDETERMINED FUNCTIONAL CONTOURS, SAID CAMSETS INCLUDING A DRIVEN CAM FIXEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID SHAFT AND TWO CAMSHAVING A FLOATING CHARACTERISTIC ON SAID SHAFT, SAID FIXED CAMPOSITIONED BETWEEN SAID TWO CAMS HAVING A FLOATING CHARACTERISTIC, EACHOF SAID CAMS IN SAID CAM SETS HAVING MEANS FOR INTERCONNECTING SAID CAMSOF SAID CAM SET WITH OTHER CAMS OF SAID CAM SET, SPRING MEANS URGINGENGAGEMENT OF SAID MEANS FOR INTERCONNECTING SIAD CAMS OF SAID CAM SES,SAID MEANS FOR INTERCONNECTING SAID CAMS ADAPTED TO PROVIDE INCREMENTALSETTING OF SAID FUNCTIONAL CONTOURS AT PREDETERMINED ANGLES AS SAID CAMSHAVING A FLOATING CHARACTERISTIC ON SAID SHAFT ARE DISPLACED WITHRESPECT TO SAID FIXED CAM OF SAID CAM SETS, AND A PLURALITY OF SWITCHESINDIVIDUALLY RIDING ON SAID FUNCTIONAL CONTOURS OF SAID CAMS, SAIDCONTOURS OF SAID CAMS FOR ACTUATING SIAD SWITCHES.